U.S. scores first soccer win vs. Italy

February 29, 2012|Tribune News Services

U.S. national team players celebrate Clint Dempsey's goal Wednesday against Italy. (Reuters Photo)

GENOA, Italy - Jurgen Klinsmann picked up the biggest win of his tenure in charge of the U.S. men's national team Wednesday as the Americans earned a 1-0 win over Italy in a friendly at the Luigi Ferraris Stadium.

Italy entered the contest with a 7-0-3 record all-time against the U.S., but Clint Dempsey's 55th-minute goal was enough for the Americans to end that streak and hand the Italians their first ever defeat in Genoa.

Alessandro Matri had an early chance for Italy when he turned a first-time shot on goal from six yards that was kept out by goalkeeper Tim Howard.

The lone chance for the U.S. in the first half came in the 38th minute when Dempsey's 20-yard free kick was hit well but straight at goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.

Italy was on the front foot for most of the match. However, the visitors took the lead against the run of play 10 minutes after the break.

Jozy Altidore collected a pass inside the penalty area with his back to goal and laid the ball off for Dempsey, who rolled the ball back across the goalkeeper and inside the left post.

With Italy pressing forward in search of an equalizer, the U.S. spent most of the remainder of the contest defending, and survived a scare in the 78th minute when a threatening cross from Ignazio Abate was cleared from a dangerous area.

Fabio Borini had a great chance moments later for Italy when his close-range shot was blocked by Jonathan Spector, but the win wasn't secure until the dying moments when Riccardo Montolivo curled the ball wide of the net from 20 yards in stoppage time.